Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting – deodorizing – preser – Analyzer – structured indicator – or manipulative laboratory... – Means for analyzing gas sample
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-19
2001-04-10
Ludlow, Jan (Department: 1746)
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preser
Analyzer, structured indicator, or manipulative laboratory...
Means for analyzing gas sample
C366S108000, C366S117000, C366S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214294
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stirring device for use in inspection of samples in chemical and biochemical fields, which is designed to mix reagents, reaction liquids or the like and to stir the resultant mixture.
Stirrers, each having piezoelectric elements, are superior to rotary-type stirrers in terms of stirring efficiency. They therefore help to enhance the operating performance of automatic analyzers.
A conventional stirrer having piezoelectric elements will be described, with reference to
FIGS. 2A
,
2
B and
2
C.
FIG. 2A
is a front view,
FIG. 2B
is a rear view, and
FIG. 2C
is a side view.
This stirrer has a so-called “bimorph” structure. That is, it comprises a metal shim
201
and two piezoelectric ceramic elements
202
are attached to both surfaces of the shim
201
. The metal shim
201
and the elements
202
constitute an actuator.
When an AC voltage is applied to the piezoelectric ceramic elements
202
, the elements
202
are repeatedly expand and contract. The metal shim
201
is thereby vibrated. One end of the shim
201
is held in place by a screw
203
. The other end of the shim
201
extends with the same material having a narrow portion, thus forming a blade
204
. The blade
204
is inserted into a reaction cell and immersed in the liquid contained in the reaction cell. By the metal shim
201
is vibrated, the blade
204
is vibrated, so the liquid in the reaction cell is stirred. The weight of the screw
205
controls the vibration amplitude of the blade
204
.
A cover
206
conceals all but the blade
204
. Cover
206
protect the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic element.
In recent years it has been demanded that automatic analyzers be made smaller and that two or more automatic analyzers be used in combination. To make an automatic analyzer, the reaction tubes in the reaction tank of the analyzer are arranged at a shorter distance.
An automatic analyzer may have two stirrers that are arranged side by side when they stir the liquid in two adjacent reaction tubes at the same time. To stir the liquid in the two adjacent reaction tubes, the stirrers need to be spaced for the same distance as the reaction tubes are spaced apart. If the stirrers are arranged very close to each other, their covers
206
may interfere with each other.
Therefore, reducing the distance between adjacent blades
204
has its limit, so the distance between the adjacent reaction cells is limited. Consequently, the automatic analyzer cannot be made as small as is demanded.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a stirring device which can be manufactured with high efficiency and which can help to miniaturize automatic analyzers.
According to the invention, there is provided a stirring device comprising: an actuator having a vibration element; a cover covering the actuator; a blade designed to be vibrated by the actuator; and connecting means connecting the blade to the actuator like the central axis of vibration amplitude of the blade is situated substantially along the side of the cover.
The blade is secured to the spacer, and the spacer is fastened to the actuator. Thus, if two stirring devices of the invention are simultaneously used to stir the liquids contained in two reaction cells, the distance between the blades of the stirrers can be shortened by the thickness of the spacer. This makes it possible to reduce the distance between the adjacent reaction cells arranged in the reaction tank of an automatic analyzer. Therefore, the stirring device according to this invention serves to miniaturize the automatic analyzer.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3591862 (1971-07-01), Winston
patent: 3770248 (1973-11-01), Cahoon et al.
patent: 3774317 (1973-11-01), Balamuth et al.
patent: 4612291 (1986-09-01), Dawes
patent: 5413770 (1995-05-01), Sakaguchi et al.
patent: 5449493 (1995-09-01), Rokugawa et al.
Ikeda Kazuyoshi
Rokugawa Kyuji
Shibutani Hitoshi
Handy Dwayne K
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Ludlow Jan
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
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